Sewing Machine Operator salary in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
Sewing Machine Operators in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area earn a median of $35,860 a year ($17.24 an hour), based on BLS data for 630 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $52,000 for the top 10%. That is 2% lower than the national median of $36,670. Pay here is about the same as the Maryland statewide median of $35,860. There are 0.47 sewing machine operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.69). The average (mean) salary is $38,850, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for sewing machine operators in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| 25th percentile | $31,680 | $15.23 |
| Median | $35,860 | $17.24 |
| 75th percentile | $42,220 | $20.30 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $52,000 | $25.00 |
| Average (mean) | $38,850 | $18.68 |
Half of sewing machine operators earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $2,988.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,494.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,379.23 |
| Weekly | $689.62 |
| Hourly | $17.24 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Sewing Machine Operator salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $41,410 | 660 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $35,360 | 1,400 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $35,120 | 100 |
| Salisbury, MD | $31,200 | 130 |
Highest-paying states for sewing machine operators
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Nevada | $45,750 |
| Alaska | $43,850 |
| Colorado | $43,840 |
| Maine | $43,520 |
| Washington | $43,360 |
| Massachusetts | $42,910 |
| New Hampshire | $41,740 |
| Vermont | $40,850 |
| Wisconsin | $40,370 |
| Arizona | $40,210 |
See Sewing Machine Operator pay in every state or the Maryland statewide figures.
Related jobs in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $33,740 | $16.22 |
| Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials | $35,990 | $17.30 |
| Upholsterer | $50,590 | $24.32 |
| Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers | $50,790 | $24.42 |
| Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers | $48,200 | $23.17 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $43,970 | $21.14 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $77,970 | $37.48 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $42,320 | $20.35 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $60,750 | $29.21 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $61,920 | $29.77 |
| Baker | $36,590 | $17.59 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $45,470 | $21.86 |
| Food Batchmaker | $43,160 | $20.75 |
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $60,640 | $29.16 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-6031. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a sewing machine operator make in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD?
The median salary for sewing machine operators in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area is $35,860 a year, or $17.24 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $52,000 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid sewing machine operators make in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD?
The top 10% of sewing machine operators in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area earn at least $52,000 a year. The top 25% earn $42,220 or more.
What is the starting pay for sewing machine operators in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,200 a year, and a quarter of sewing machine operators earn $31,680 or less.
How many sewing machine operators work in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD?
About 630 sewing machine operators are employed in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area, not counting the self-employed.